Leaving Tirana, Albania for Warsaw, Poland. What a Catastrophe!
On the day of our departure from Tirana for Warsaw, everything went as planned until the big catastrophe happened. We left the hotel at 8:30 am, caught the white LUNA bus back to the international airport at 9 am, checked in for our flight, were upgraded to business class, went through immigration, and then proceeded to the lounge for premier Star Alliance members. Our flight was scheduled to depart at 1:30 pm that day.
After eating breakfast in the lounge and getting some rest, we proceeded to Gate 7. By 12:30 pm, all passengers were processed to board. We were all called by group number and we all waited right outside the area where buses were supposed to pick us up and take us to the plane. 1:00 pm arrived and we were still waiting. After an hour still no bus came. 2:00 pm arrived and 2:30 pm too. Soon it was 6 pm. We waited forever for nothing. Soon , everyone was asking, "What is going on?"
Nobody knew. One airport employee told a fellow passenger that the plane we were supposed to board had mechanical problems and that LOT Polish Airlines was sending another plane over. But, once again, no new plane arrived. It was so frustrating to see airlines take off to the left and right of us. We even saw a British Airways plane, the same one that brought us to Tirana a week earlier, arrive and head back to London. At around 5 pm, we found out from a fellow passenger that we were each given a food voucher for 8 euros to buy food and drinks in the airport. We bought some snacks even though we were not hungry. We bought two cheese bureks, two cookies, and two bottles of water.
It was only around 7 pm when our flight was cancelled and even that announcement came from an employee who spoke to a passenger and the news just spread by word of mouth since no formal announcement was made.
Before we left the airport to look for lodging that night, we were informed by email that we were booked for a flight with Lufthansa at 5:30 am the following day for Munich with an onward flight to Warsaw with LOT Polish Airlines at 9:55 am. We were told to pick up our bags from a certain gate and off we went to a hotel right across the airport. We went to the Ark Hotel. We had the last room available and it cost nearly 155 euros! We took it anyway hoping that our travel insurance would later reimburse us.
This was the sign at Gate 7, the afternoon we were scheduled to fly from Tirana to Warsaw, Poland with LOT Polish Airlines.
This was at Gate 7 right above the exit to the waiting area where we the passengers waited for the buses that were supposed to take us to the LOT Polish Airlines plane.
The sign board in the airport. Our flight appears on the very top.
This was us at the cafe and deli buying food with our 8 euro voucher per passenger. I'm at the extreme left with the black backpack.
Finally, after a day of delay, we were booked on a Lutfhansa flight out of Albania. Flight departure was at 5:30 am!
Goodbye, Tirana!
Upon reaching our room, we made several calls. The first was to our Warsaw hotel to inform them of our very delayed arrival. A full day to be exact. Second, we had to confirm our seats with Lufthansa for the flights we were given to travel to Poland. The third was to our travel insurance, World Nomads, to be reimbursed for our unexepcted stay at the Tirana Airport Hotel. We slept at around 10 pm.
By 2 am, after just four hours of sleep, we woke up and had to get ready to go across the street and go to the airport. Honestly, I was apprehensive about leaving the hotel so early. Little did I know, the airport across the street was so busy and lively! There were hundreds of people at the cafes and restaurants in the departure hall. The atmosphere literally had a party feel! I couldn't believe it!
We were checked in for our flight to Munich at 3:30 am. We went through immigration and security and for the second time, went to the Star Alliance Premier Lounge once again to eat breakfast. With German efficiency and punctuality, we left on time. Finally, we were on our way. Goodbye, Tirana!